The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-07
A SEXTON WENT HEAvENwARD.
How Tifnid Bell-Ringer Got Dread
FIJI Frinhf I'm q .onnlv Church.

How q Tirnid Bell-Ringer Got a Dread
ft1l Fright In O. Lonely Church
The Methodist church at Vernon - st
uated mile from the station and quite
distance from any dwelling, say5 the Hart
ford Conn Foa. II has long been great
temptation TO a certain young fellow IN the
place, who seems to have mania for cut
ting up pranks with church property, ana
as the ayermceting IL Thursday evening
and class-meeting Saturday evening, this
od-natured, imocent-loOkn2 young Iel-
low decided upon last Friday night FOR ms
latest exploit. With a trlsty accompllce he
picked the lock with a bent buttOn-hook,
and the two young inaps entered the church.
Once In the entry they lighted the lantern
they brought with them and proceeded 10
get up into the belfiy There were no
stairs and no ladder with which W climb 10
the scuttle-hole in the centre Of the ceiling,
but with determination 70 succeed that
might have been better employed they took
n settee, stood it ON end aud putting another
one likewise on the upper end Of the first
one, climbed up this impOviscd ladder, and
trembling with excitement reached the bel
FRY. IL was but the work Of few seconds
to wrap one Of their coat3 around the tongue
Of the bell, and then, after exerting every
ounce of strength they Ind, they finally
turned the heavy bell bottom up. Tho
tongue was held in place by belt fastened
with nuts. AS u wrench, liable TO slip Oil
and strike blow on the bell would not he
safe implement TO use, they used their
fingers TO unscrew the nuts. One of the
follows in his cainestness tore the flesh on
his fingers, but what did be care for his
bleeding tlngersi The tongue once out, to
save time one said, Lets leave it just as 1t
iS;' aud down they went and out of the
church, leaving tho bell wrong side up.
Now for the sequel.
The sexton Is man not blessed with a
great amount of physical courage, and on
entering the church ut night he looks through
II pretty thoroughly before ringing the bell.
Last Saturday night he walked up one aisle
aud down the other rs soon as he went in,
ana held his lantern up and pecped into
cvely nook and corner. Everything looked
about as usual but his lantern did not
throw out as much light as usual he thought.
Then he commenced to buildt the fire, but
the Gathering of the shovel and poker
s 'emcd TO reverberatc unusually in the
empty church. Once or twice he was sure
h saw some one behind him, but after all
IL was only his shadow, and when the fire
was we'll going and he had lighted the
lamps he looked at his watch and took hold
of the bell-rope. He did not notice it was
little longer than usual, but reaching up
| and taking n firm hold-hc always docs, for
ie iihSn w iVdI gOpu lpuu iVui ohc ~ ~
strOle--ho pulled Tho rope gave a little
and then--up went the sexton half way to
the ceiling. Many times the pastor told
him no should always be ready, but some
how he wasn't just then, and he let go and
came down with a laundering bump and
then rolled over on his back He looked up
and saw tho rope running up and coming
down as it hns for years when the bell is
sending forth its loudeSt pe0lS, but not a
| AZ h, hnn l,at tXH1A tnn AtI
and, tetror-Stricken, he jumped up, grabbed
the lantern and went out Of that church
door rs If the old hoy himself was after him,
and when he reached the nearest house he
was too scared and out of breath TO tell
what was the matter In their estimation
the boys surely bulded better than they
knew. The bell being bottom up, when it
turned over the rope and the sexton were
| irresistibly pulled up several feet from the
| floor